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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 5 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 1480 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

Another issue which has arisen in the national context and which the new regulator will address is how people appeal decisions of the regulator. At present there are restricted avenues of appeal. Issues that need to be considered include the arbitration of disputes between the regulator and persons subject to regulation, and appeals on pricing and access issues.

I canvass this matter in the context of the legislative amendments to be brought forward at a later date should this model be acceptable to the Assembly. I am more than happy to provide briefings to crossbench and Opposition members on the proposal I have outlined today. I believe it will satisfy the expectation for an independent, resourced body that can monitor the implementation of competition policy issues without creating an additional layer of regulation. Under its current commissioner, IPARC has established a reputation for independence and for taking into account the views of the broader community in its pricing inquiries.

I propose, therefore, to move that the Assembly endorse the ICRC model I have outlined today to meet the Assembly's request for an independent council on competition policy issues. Mr Speaker, I intend to bring forward a motion next week that, hopefully, will be passed so that we can get on with putting together the legislation or the amendments that will be required to bring this to fruition. If members would like any briefings over the next few days, we would be more than happy to provide them.

MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, I have had a request that, rather than you move to have the Assembly take note of the paper, which is one of the two options under standing order 214, you move that the paper be referred to the Chief Minister's Portfolio Committee.

MS CARNELL: What sort of timeframe? It is fine with us. It just means that we do not have an independent entity in place for a very long time. Can you report by next week?

Mr Quinlan: No. We have the existing forum now, have we not?

MS CARNELL: Yes, but it is not doing anything. It is basically inactive.

Mr Quinlan: It does not get any referrals.

Ms Tucker: Mr Speaker, may I speak to this, or are we just having an internal chat across the chamber?

MS CARNELL: Sorry. Mr Speaker, I ask for a moment because that had not been put to me.

Ms Tucker: We did not know. This was not put to us.

Mr Kaine: It was not put to me either.

Mr Humphries: It was on the program.

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